Maria BellisCounselling and Psychotherapy

Welcome to my web site. I am Maria Bellis and I am an accredited Counsellor and Gestalt Psychotherapist in South Bristol.

You may be looking for someone to understand and listen to your feelings or experiences currently impacting your life. This may involve relationships or family issues, grief or loss, work stress, past  or present trauma, low self confidence or esteem, or many other causes of dissatisfaction that you want to talk about.  I support people to find ways of dealing with uncomfortable feelings and thoughts so they can move forward to resolve issues their way. 

You can learn a lot from many different resources and I know there is certainly a lot of choice out there that can also be useful, but what therapy also brings is how to relate to another person as your authentic self- including how you relate to yourself. How to feel OK just being 'you' with an 'other' whilst you face whatever difficulties life presents and you work out what you need to do. 

Psychotherapy and Counselling is often helpful to gain understanding of the ways to feel good about yourself or your life, to find healing and recovery from a past or present experience, or to develope ways that work better for you in life and relationships. It is also about being human and genuine with others. 

Feeling comfortable with  how you function in your world and how you relate with others often supports how you deal with people and situations. 

 We can work on many levels whether short term focused work or deeper, complex issues. You decide what you need and the pace you want to go.  You can choose a set number of weeks or leave things open ended until you feel you have done enough. We can discuss what you need at a first session. 

I work with individuals Face to Face, online or via telephone in the UK. 

 
I am a Senior Accredited Registrant Counsellor (NCPS) and Gestalt Psychotherapist (UKCP) (see More About Me page). You can contact me, without obligation, if you would like to get an idea of how I can work with you to resolve your issues. See What to do next below..

I can work with:

• Low self-esteem and self-confidence
• Anxiety, low mood or depression
  
• Negative Thinking or Self-Doubt
• Bereavment or Loss
  
• Coping with difficulties in relationships
• Coping with Stress
  
• Dealing with abuse experiences in childhood or adulthood
• Changing negative behaviours
  
• Trauma
• Work related stresses
  
• Alcohol related issues
• Uncertainty about your life
  
• Issues arising from health matters
• Many other issues
  
  If you would like some basic information there are some free downloads on my information page.
  Mind also lists Bristol organisations offering specialist or low cost counselling.

   

What is Gestalt Psychotherapy?

Gestalt means a form of 'wholeness'. Gestalt Therapists believe that people are born with the resources and ability to lead satisfying and creative lives but that life experiences may interrupt this process so we may not feel wholly ourselves. By increasing your awareness, resolving any 'unfinished business' and re-framing any negative or self-limited thinking, you can respond to challenges by finding ways that work better for you and support how you manage your life. Change can be very rewarding though sometimes not easy. We may have to look at ourselves more deeply or challenge ourselves about how we relate to the world, but it should always be our choice how much we do this. 

What to do next?

I welcome enquiries as I understand the importance of finding the right therapist for you. Reading m past  Finding A Way blog will give you some idea about how I work.

You can have a short telephone conversation before deciding about a first session or book an initial session straight away (reduced fee) to give you a sense of how I work.  You can then decide whether to set up ongoing sessions or have more time to reflect.

• You can e-mail me, text or call and leave a message. 
• Please give me brief details about what you want from counselling or psychotherapy and ask any questions (Click here to E mail me.).
• My sessions are on  Tuesdays and Thursdays. 
• It helps if you specify what time and day you are wanting. I can let you know if anything is available.
• My sessions are £50. The first introductory session is £30.
• All of my contact is confidential and I will try to get back to you within 24 hours.
• You can choose to work online, face to face or a mix of the two. I use zoom for online work.
• I practice counselling and psychotherapy in south Bristol in Whitchurch, near Knowle, Knowle West, Hengrove, Stockwood,  Hartcliffe and Brislington. There are several local buses 2, 376, 36, 515 and I am near the main roads of Wells Rd (A37), Bath Rd (A4) and Airport Rd. There is plenty of free on street parking.
• I am a member of a local network of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (CAPPP) in Bristol and the wider area to which I can refer for specific needs (anonymously) if you want help with your search.
  
  
  

  "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
  Goethe.